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About me - Alex Powell

I'm 18 years old and studying at university in London, a 1st year biochemist. I love to learn and think about things. My true dislike is the ill informed reactionary, the purely emotive writer, one who argues purely on the basis of hearsay and opinion rather

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Entertainment > Movie Analysis Movie analysis: What we can learn from movies like "300"
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I found 300 a very distressing watch indeed. Not, however, due to its inane graphic violence or its potentially political sentiments. The thing I found most deeply worrying about this film was the way it takes the historically researched truth, a western myth and a healthy dose of bigotry and simplification to produce what es... More..

Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness The hazards of carcinogens
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When considering the risks of carcinogens, you must consider that if a substance can cause cancer, it is a carcinogen. However, this does not mean that this substance is dangerous per se. For example, sunlight (or the UV component of sunlight) can cause cancer (and is therefore carcinogenic) but we still readily expose oursel... More..

Politics, News & Issues > US Elections (Other) Is eighteen too young to vote?Smallicon
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As an 18 year old who has voted recently in a UK local election, I would like to think that 18 is not too young to vote. In both the UK and US the age of 18 brings many responsibilities and rights, and governmental decisions begin to affect us more. Consequently, I feel that we should have the right to vote on the government ... More..

Sciences > Cellular Biology The basics of gel electrophoresis
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Electrophoresis is the movement of charged particles in an electrical field, first characterised in solutions by F.F. Reuss. In short, the higher the voltage, the lower the viscosity of the medium; the smaller the charged particle and the greater the charge on that particle the faster it will move. This is used in microbiolog... More..

Entertainment > Movie Analysis Movie analysis: Race, sex and eugenics in the movie 300
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This is not a simple topic to write about at any time, but with a film such as 300, which is bigoted on so many levels it becomes a little easier. Taking, first, the idea of race, I do not find the idea of the 'white' Greeks versus the 'black' Persians so very distressing. It is more of a gross simplification than genuinely o... More..

Religion & Spirituality > Atheism & Agnosticism God believes in you. Why do you not believe in Him?
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Because I do not need God to exist. I do not need anyone to tell me I am believed in. Perhaps those that tell me that God believes in me should perhaps consider what they are saying. Perhaps they can not entertain the eventuality that our existence is essentially in vain. That really they mean that they need someone to believ... More..

Religion & Spirituality > Thoughts on God How can you not believe in God
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I used to have doubt about the existence of God. But know I know quite clearly that God does not exist. I can only make this claim on a personal level. But what I see in the idea of God and religion as a whole is a convenient answer. An answer to all the questions we are too afraid to accept that we do not understand. Death, ... More..

Pets & Animals > Animal Rights & Issues Is it morally OK to test cosmetics on animals?Smallicon
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So far emotive arguments calling on us to think of animals' 'feelings' and similar. However, I feel that this is not a very concise argument - considering that it is something of a moot point as to whether animals have feelings (although I personally feel that a great deal of anthropomorphising goes on when people consider th... More..

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